10 Easy Tips to Save Money This Christmas

Plan it. Before you shop online or enter the chaos of the shopping mall, take 10 minutes at home to create a spending plan that lists who you need to buy for and how much you will spend. Use discounted gift cards. How would you like $100 worth of gifts for $80? You can purchase discounted gift cards for hundreds of online/offline retailers including the Apple Store, Radio Shack, Sears, Home Depot, and others. Discounts are usually 5-30 percent off the face value of the card. Check out GiftCardRescue.com and GiftCards.com . Use social media. Before you start shopping, start following your favorite retailers on Twitter and Facebook. Many companies offer discounts exclusively to their Twitter followers and Facebook friends. A quick search of their recent posts may reveal money-saving discount codes. Barter via online chat. When you’re shopping online, look for a “chat” or “li...